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The father of a Penn State student who died after an alcohol-fueled hazing ritual says his son was treated like 'roadkill.' Nineteen-year-old engineering student Timothy Piazza died in February after a Beta Theta party. (May 15)

Tim Piazza with his parents, Evelyn and James.(Photo: ~Courtesy of Patrick Carns)

HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Pennsylvania Attorney General announced Tuesday his office will pursue involuntary manslaughter charges against five Penn State fraternity brothers in connection with the death of 19-year old Readington resident Tim Piazza, after a hazing ritual at Beta Theta Pi fraternity.

With Piazza's parents by his side, Attorney General Josh Shapiro explained why his office, now in charge of prosecuting the case, will appeal the March decision by District Judge Allen Sinclair to dismiss the charges.

"We firmly believe that justice for Tim Piazza demands that a jury hear this evidence," Shapiro said at a press conference a day before a preliminary hearing for 12 other members of Beta Theta Pi facing charges in the February 2017 death of the Hunterdon Central High School graduate.

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Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller, left, hugs Evelyn Piazza as her husband Jim stands in the background after announcing the findings in the investigation of the February death of the couple's son, Timothy Piazza, seen in photo at right, at Penn State University's fraternity Beta Theta Pi, Friday, May 5, 2017, in Bellefonte, Pa. Piazza had toxic levels of alcohol in his body and was badly injured in a series of falls, authorities said Friday in announcing criminal charges against members of the organization and the frat itself. (Joe Hermitt /PennLive.com via AP) ~Joe Hermitt, AP

Jim and Evelyn Piazza, right, stand by as Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller, second from left, announces the results of an investigation into the death of their son Timothy Piazza, seen in photo at right, a Penn State University fraternity pledge, during a press conference Friday, May 5, 2017, in Bellefonte, Pa. Timothy Piazza had toxic levels of alcohol in his body and was badly injured in a series of falls, authorities said Friday in announcing criminal charges against members of the organization and the frat itself. (Abby Drey/Centre Daily Times via AP) Abby Drey, AP

Jim and Evelyn Piazza stand by as Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller announces the results of an investigation into the death of their son Timothy Piazza, seen in photo at right, a Penn State University fraternity pledge, during a press conference Friday, May 5, 2017, in Bellefonte, Pa. Timothy Piazza had toxic levels of alcohol in his body and was badly injured in a series of falls, authorities said Friday in announcing criminal charges against members of the organization and the frat itself. (Abby Drey/Centre Daily Times via AP) Abby Drey, AP

Eveyln Piazza wraps her arm around her husband, Jim Piazza as he speaks about the loss of their son Timothy Piazza during a news conference where Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller, right, announced the results of an investigation into the death of their son, a Penn State University fraternity pledge, Friday, May 5, 2017, in Bellefonte, Pa. Timothy Piazza had toxic levels of alcohol in his body and was badly injured in a series of falls, authorities said Friday in announcing criminal charges against members of the organization and the frat itself. (Abby Drey/Centre Daily Times via AP) Abby Drey, AP

Jim and Evelyn Piazza listen as Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller, left, announces the results of an investigation into the death of their son Timothy Piazza, a Penn State University fraternity pledge, during a press conference Friday, May 5, 2017, in Bellefonte, Pa. Timothy Piazza had toxic levels of alcohol in his body and was badly injured in a series of falls, authorities said Friday in announcing criminal charges against members of the organization and the frat itself. (Abby Drey/Centre Daily Times via AP) Abby Drey, AP

Jim and Evelyn Piazza stand by as Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller, left, announces the results of an investigation into the death of their son Timothy Piazza, a Penn State University fraternity pledge, during a press conference Friday, May 5, 2017, in Bellefonte, Pa. Timothy Piazza had toxic levels of alcohol in his body and was badly injured in a series of falls, authorities said Friday in announcing criminal charges against members of the organization and the frat itself. (Abby Drey/Centre Daily Times via AP) Abby Drey, AP

Jim and Evelyn Piazza stand by as Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller, left, announces the results of an investigation into the death of their son Timothy Piazza, seen in photo at right, a Penn State University fraternity pledge, during a press conference Friday, May 5, 2017, in Bellefonte, Pa. Timothy Piazza had toxic levels of alcohol in his body and was badly injured in a series of falls, authorities said Friday in announcing criminal charges against members of the organization and the frat itself. (Abby Drey/Centre Daily Times via AP) Abby Drey, AP

Jim and Evelyn Piazza listen as Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller, left, announces the results of an investigation into the death of their son Timothy Piazza, a Penn State University fraternity pledge, during a press conference Friday, May 5, 2017, in Bellefonte, Pa. Timothy Piazza had toxic levels of alcohol in his body and was badly injured in a series of falls, authorities said Friday in announcing criminal charges against members of the organization and the frat itself. (Abby Drey/Centre Daily Times via AP) Abby Drey, AP

Jim and Evelyn Piazza listen as Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller, left, announces the results of an investigation into the death of their son Timothy Piazza, a Penn State University fraternity pledge, during a press conference Friday, May 5, 2017, in Bellefonte, Pa. Timothy Piazza had toxic levels of alcohol in his body and was badly injured in a series of falls, authorities said Friday in announcing criminal charges against members of the organization and the frat itself. (Abby Drey/Centre Daily Times via AP) Abby Drey, AP

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Shapiro said various charges will remain against 26 members of the fraternity, but the most serious charge, involuntary manslaughter, should remain only against five members. Former Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller had indicted 13 members on involuntary manslaughter charges and 13 on aggravated assault charges.

"We are committed to holding every responsible individual accountable for their actions in this tragedy consistent with Pennsylvania state law and the evidence," Shapiro said.

Shapiro said the involuntary manslaughter charges should remain against the five members because their actions meet the conditions of a manslaughter charge. Shapiro said the five fraternity brothers participated in the "gauntlet" that gave alcohol to Piazza and the other pledges, knew of his fall down the steps in the fraternity house and failed to call for help when they were aware he was hurt.

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Shapiro said those five defendants – Brendan Young, Daniel Casey, Jonah Neuman, Gary DiBileo and Luke Visser – had “specific knowledge of Piazza's fall at a time when medical intervention would have saved Tim’s life.”

Shapiro also said he is seeking to reinstate reckless endangerment charges against six defendants, hazing charges against two and conspiracy charges against eight, all charges that were previously thrown out

Piazza, a sophomore engineering major, died of severe head and abdominal injuries after falling several times at the fraternity house on the night of a bid acceptance ceremony and party in February 2017.

Security video recovered from the house showed him and other pledges being plied with alcohol, and authorities later estimated Piazza had consumed three to four times the state’s legal limit for alcohol.